George Daniel

LOCK HAVEN, Pa. - The Lock Haven University Winter Commencement will take place Sunday, Dec. 9 at 2 p.m. in Thomas Fieldhouse.

The speaker for the ceremony is 2001 LHU alumnus George Daniel, member of Fly Fishing Team USA.

Daniel began fly-fishing at age 6 while growing up fishing the headwaters of Kettle Creek in Potter County, Pa. and credits Joe Humphreys for the bulk of his knowledge along with many national and international fly fishing industry professionals. Daniel has been seen on ESPN, Outdoor Life Network (OLN) and Versus while competing in the Great Outdoor Games and the Fly Fishing Masters and is a certified Federation of Fly Fishers Fly Casting Instructor. His earned spot on Fly Fishing Team USA for the last four years has taken him to locations such as Portugal, Finland and will take him to New Zealand in 2008 for the World Fly Fishing Championships.

Daniel graduated from LHU with a major in Outdoor Recreation Management. Currently he is the assistant manager and director of education for the State College TCO Fly Shop and is working on his master’s degree at the Pennsylvania State University. He has been traveling the country putting on between 30 to 40 fly fishing presentations and clinics to various groups and organizations over the last four years.

He resides in Lock Haven with his wife, Amidea who is a 2001 LHU graduate, his fly fishing partner and camera crew, and their two golden retrievers that answer to the names of Baetis and Madison.

Some of Daniel’s accomplishments include:

- 3rd place fishing (team) 2003 Fly Fishing Masters.

- 1st place Casting Competition 2004 OLN Fly Fishing Masters.

- Bronze Medal-2005 Oregon Trials FF Team USA.

- Bronze Medal-2006 Fresno Trials FF Team USA.

- Gold Medal-2006 Michigan Trials FF Team USA.

- Gold Medal Team -2006 National FF Championships.

- 8th Place (individually) 2006 National FF Championships.

- 5th Place (individually) 2006 World FF Championships, Portugal (Second highest individual finish in US history).

- George was also selected to compete in the 2007 World Fly Fishing Championships, Finland.

- Coaching Staff for the 2007 and 2008 US Youth Fly Fishing Team.

- Won the 2007 Outdoor Life Network FF Master .

- Contract Tier for Riverborn Flies.

- Silver Medal Team-2007/2008 US National Championships.

- Gold Medal/National Champion-2007/2008 US Nationals FF Championships.

- Appeared in the 2006 and 2007 Visit PA Tourism Promotion Ads.

- Selected to compete in the 2008 World Fly Fishing Championships, New Zealand.